| California Buckwheat |
| Eriogonum fasciculatum |
| Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) |
| Flowers — color: white, size: 1/8", type: 6 petals |
The California Buckwheat flower has three petals and three similar sepals [collectively tepals]. Each tepal has a red central stripe, resembling its relative, California Spineflower. Many stamens having red anthers extend beyond these petals.
Several dozen flowers form a tight spherical cluster. The end of a branch may hold several dozen clusters. After a long bloom the flowers dry to brown balls [roughly one inch diameter] that clearly mark buckwheat into the next blooming season.
Habit:
California Buckwheat is a perennial shrub. Multiple stems spread from the base, up to a three foot dome. The narrow leaves are elliptic [narrow at base and end], one inch long or less, and bundle in clusters from a node [fasciculatum]. They tend to curl and become tubular or needle-like, resembling rosemary or chamise. The leaves are evergreen but drought-deciduous. Note: Seacliff Buckwheat [E. parvifolium] has a different habit with larger, wider leaves.
This buckwheat species is the host for the El Segundo blue, an endangered butterfly dwelling in the coastal dunes near LAX. Our reserve has a similar butterfly, the square-spotted blue [see photo under American deerweed], but the USFWS has decided they are genetically distinct.
California Buckwheat is a keystone players in the coastal scrub, providing nectar to many pollinators. Open sunny areas.
Observations:
Path along iron-grill fence east of Cabrillo HS, north side of Oak Hill Dr. This dense population of California Buckwheat may have been planted by gardeners, but I have seen it in other parts of BMER.